Handbag



April 16, 1940. s. B. MEGDALL HANDBAG Filed Dec. 20, 1959 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 STATES 2,197,5ltz

HANDBAG Sanford B. Megdall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Fulton Novelty (70., Inc., New York, NLYi, a, corporation of New York Application December 20, 1939, Serial No. $10,099

It Claims.

This invention relates to ladys handbags.

One object of the invention is to provide a ladys handbag having hems at the mouth thereof and improved means for mounting the bag at said hems on a relatively conventional inexpensive and sturdy handbag frame, to thus produce .he finished handbag without necessitating mane ipulation of screws, or the like and without requiring skilled working of the bag fabric, and with the bag being removable and adapted for engagement with frames. of different styles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a iadys handbag having a bag body having hems along the top and upright edges of its mouth, and improved means engageable in said hems for mounting the bag to thus afford a full support therefor throughout.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a handbag having an improved detachable tame structure having parts expansible related to each other and so arranged as to be adapted for very inexpensive manufacture on a quantity production basis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a having improved means for mounting the bag on a hem and for retaining the bag in proper or predetermined position on the supporting rod of the hem.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subgoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective isometric view of a handbag frame embodying the invention with a part thereof removed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of a handbag embodying the invention and including the frame shown in Fig. 1 the section being taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and parts being removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3-,3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the parts of a novel unitary expansible frame member, said parts being shown separated from each other.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modified frame structure with parts of the egrpansible means shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of an angular hem concealing frame according to a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 7; is a longitudinal view of a modified handbag according. tov the invention, with parts removed and parts in section, and showing a linkage for securing end herns of the bag'body.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the handbag taken on line t3 of Fig. 7;, with parts omitted.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8 with parts omitted.

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation showing a gathered hem handbag embodying the invention.

Fig. i1 is a fragmentary view showing a handbag frame with means for mounting a bag so as to prevent shifting of a non-gathered hem, with the parts separated to show details of construction, the means for preventing sh ting being shown in a retracted position.

Fig. 12 is a View of the same with the shift preventing means engaging a bag hem which is shown in. section.

'Fig. 12; is afragmentary view of a modification showing "a different shift preventing means, with the bag hem in section.

"The advantag es of the invention as here outlined a rebe s t realized when all of its features and instrumentalitiesare combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions'. Theaccompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention;

Referring in detail to the drawing, 95 denotes a handbag frame embodying the invention. The same is shown as including a frame having a pair of inverted U-shaped frame members it of any suitable shape or structure. Each frame member may include a pair of arms l'n' hingedly interconnected at 8. Carried by each pair of arms is a rod means for engaging through a bag hem as hereinafter described. Preferably the rod means may be located as at is adjacent to cross bars of the frame members, these cross bars being advantageous as affording a rigid permanent interconnection between each pair of arms ll, whereby the rod means I!) need perform. no similar function and may be easily removable without any particular manipulation, as of screws or the like. Accordingly'the bag body may be removed by any pers'om'for washing, cleaning, or e lace ent I The bag body member 2| is the regular, externally finished bag itself, as distinguished, for example, from a mere cover, and may consist of leather or other suitable highly attractive expensive fabric. It is intended to be built up to afford a bag whose shape is self sustained, irrespective of the frame, in the same manner as in{ expensive and well padded or reenforced handbags. It may include an outer wall 22 and a lining 23 carrying one or more inside pockets 24 or the like. Along the sides of its mouth, the bag body may be provided with hems 25 formed by stitching as at 26, and the end Walls of the bag body being inwardly folded to provide the usual expansible gussets 27, with their free top edges 28.

With the rod means |9 passing through the hems 25 andsupporting the bag body on the frame l5, the handbag 233 is produced, as shown in Fig. 10. It will be noted that the hem 25 is preferably longitudinally compressed or gathered, this being effected by partially collapsing the hem to compress it into the shorter space between the arms IT. This gather affords a decorative effect, but primarily it greatly increases the thickness of the hem body so that the hem shall not accidentally shift along the rod means, whereby safety and uniformity of appearance are obtained. Upon removing the bag body from the frame, the hem may be smoothed out fiat and thin for washing, ironing or cleaning. Manufacture is also facilitated because an ordinary thin hem is easy to make and to stitch. Desirably the body of the hem may be increased by including therein the lining material of the bag, to thus afford greater longitudinal body for the hem especially when the latter is longitudinally compressed to form the gather.

It is significant that in this invention the rod -means l9 of each frame member I6 lies between and Wholly in the plane of the latter, so that the hems 25 are similarly located, thus affordprojecting ends for the arms H.

In Fig. 4 is shown the telescopic resiliently expansible rod means l9, comprising a short rod and a long rod or tube 3|. At one end of the rod 30 is an axial bore 32 and at its other end is an undercut or reduced diameter axial rod portion 33. Extending around the latter is an expansion coil spring 34 adapted to seat against the annular shoulder 35 and against an annular flange 36 of a thimble 31 through which the rod portion 33 is freely slidable, with the free end of the latter annularly upset as at 38 to prevent removal of the rod portion 33 from the thimble. These three parts 30, 34 and 31 may thus be directly assembled and connected together, after which the thimble 3! is permanently press fitted into the bore of the tube 3| to provide the unitary rod means |9. Desirably the parts 30, 35 and 3| are of like maximum outside diameter, and the diameter of the spring 34 is somewhat smaller so that the'insertion' of for projection from the hems 49.

the rod means through a bag hem is not obstructed.

Fixedly mounted on the arms I! are confronting alined pins 38, one of which engages in the bore 32 and the other in the remote end of the bore of the tube 3| to thus mount rod means i9 on the frame l5. In practise, the means H! are slipped through the individual hems 25, and the latter gathered thereon, and the means H! are partly collapsed and then mounted on the pins 38; the means I 9 is then expanded and held expanded by the spring. The means I 9 and their hems thus directly abut the arms H, which afford a strong restraining means for the hems.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified frame structure 39- Which is in all respects like that hereinbefore described except that the element 3i] is omitted, one of the pins such as 38 being replaced by a longer pin 40 around which extends the spring 34, retained thereon by a slidable collar M, which is in turn retained by an upset 42 on-the pin 40, this upset being so arranged or so small as to be adapted to freely pass into the bore of the tube 3|. The arrangement of Fig. 4 is superior because the latter permits the required strength to be maintained with a tube of the smallest possible diameter, so that the hems 25 need not bulge. For a like reason a structure with an externally mounted spring as herein shown is superior to one having an internally mounted spring; moreover, an internally mounted spring would be so small as not to possess the requisite strength.

If concealment of the hem be desired, the bars 20 may be of angular construction as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the bars 43 are formed with lateral longitudinal flanges 44. These prevent wear of the hems, and in addition these frames may be so close to the hems as to cause the latter to be pinched or compressed between the frame members and the rod means to minimize shifting of the hems.

In Figs. 7 to 9 is shown a modified handbag 45 which may in all respects be like the handbag hereinabove described, except that means is provided for supporting the end walls or gussets to avoid the sagging of the gussets 21 especially when the handbag is open. This means may include a linkage comprising a pair of links 46 hingedly interconnected at their lower end at 41 and having at their upper end suitable means such as perforations 48 for male and female engagement with the pins 38, in a manner similar to the male and female engagement between the arms I! and the rod means l9. The latter, engaging the pins 38, bears against the links 46 to maintain them in said engagement. Sleeved over the links 46 are the marginal hems of the handbag, at the upright ends of the mouth thereof, these hems being open at the lower ends thereof for insertion of the links, and being open at the upper ends thereof To afford clearance for the hems, the links 46 are offset away from each other adjacent to 4'! and are also ofiset away from the arms I? as at 50. Desirably the hinge connections |8 of the main frame are formed with axial pins 5| and the hinge connections 47 may be tubular 'to sleeve over the pins 5| for additionally securing the linkage.

In Figs. 11 to 13 is shown a modified frame structure 52 which provides improved means for preventing shifting of the bag hems without in- Ill terfering with the passing of the rod means 19 through the hems. This is especially advantageous if the hems be not gathered, but smooth, and consequently very thin and fairly. inconspicuous. Preferably laterally movable meansare mounted on the rod means itself, so as to leave the frame members It unmarred by working. In Fig. 11, the laterally movable means, which are spaced as may be desired, are secured to the sides of the rods 3i) and 3E, and may consist of metal strips 53 which are initially quite close to the sides of the rod means to avoid catching in the hems. After the latter has been sleeved over the rod means, these strips 53 move laterally outward to pinch into the hem material. These strips 53 may consist of springs over which a thin tube is slipped for removal after passing into the hem, or they may be bent outward as by a tool to oppositely engage the hem near the ends thereof. After the hem is so engaged, the rod means may be mounted on the frame member it. These strips may face downward, with the rods 30, 3| prevented from turning by snug engagement with square pins 54 in place of the round pins 38. If preferred, these strips 53 may project upward as shown in Fig. 3 to clamp the hem against the top bar such as 26 or 53.

I claim:

1. A handbag having a frame comprising inverted U-shaped frame members of rigid construction each having an upper bar and a pair of spaced downwardly extending arms permanently directly connected at their upper ends to the adjacent ends of the bar, said frame members being hingedly interconnected at the lower ends of said arms, and a bag having a bag body constituting the main part of the bag and having a normally exposed outer wall and hems extending along opposite edges of the mouth of the bag body, said bag body having end walls forming a part thereof to retain the contents of the bag when the latter is suspended at the hems, and elongated individual means passing through each hem from end to end of the bag body and mounted on said arms, each of said means having a pair of alined rods of like diameter having alined telescopic interconnecting portions including a rod portion of smaller diameter than said rods, an expansion coil spring bearing axially against the rods to tend to move the same apart, the arms of each frame member being rod-like elements having fiat outer faces and having confronting alined fixed projecting portions remote from the hinge connection, and said means having end portions on said rods for male and female interengagement with said projecting portions on the arms, the different rods of each means being permanently interconnected with each other so that said means can be directly passed as a unitary structure through a hem, said means being adapted to be mounted by moving its rods toward each other to compress the spring to effect the male and female engagement which is maintained by the expanded spring, each of said means and its hem lying wholly between and in the plane of its arms with the ends of the said means and its hem directly abutting said arms, each of said means being straight from end to end thereof, and the said bars being in close proximity to said means to closely overlie and protect the hems.

2. A handbag having a frame comprising inverted U-shaped frame members each having an upper bar and a pair of spaced downwardly extending arms permanently rigidly connected to means passing through each hem from end to L end of the bag body and mounted on said arms, each of said means having a pair of alined rods having alined telescopic interconnecting portions, an expansion coil spring tending to move said rods apart, at least one of said rods and an adjacent arm having detachably interengaging male and female means for mounting said rod, and said rods having laterally projecting elements near the ends of each of said means for engaging the hems internally thereof to prevent shifting of the hems along said means, said elements being adapted to lie close to the rods to permit the hems to be slidably passed over the rods, and said elements being movable outwardly to engage the hems.

3. A handbag having a frame comprising inverted U-shaped frame members each having an upper bar and a pair of spaced downwardly extending arms permanently rigidly connected to the bar, said frame members being hingedly interconnected at the lower ends of said arms, and a bag having a bag body constituting the main part of the bag and having a normally exposed outer wall and hems extending along opposite edges of the mouth of the bag body, said bag body having end walls forming a part thereof to retain the contents of the bag when the latter is suspended at the hems, and elongated individual means passing through each hem from end to end of the bag body and mounted on said arms, each of said means having a pair of alined rods having alined telescopic portions, and an expansion coil spring between the rods and serving to move the same apart, the rods of each means being permanently interconnected and coacting with each other to permanently mount the spring so that each of said means constitutes a unitary structure, said means and said arms having male and. female detachably interengaging means for mounting the rods, said'bag body having its mouth partially extended downwardly along its ends and having hems along the downwardly extended edges of the mouth, a pair of links at each end of the bag body passed through the last mentioned hems and being detachably engaged with the male portions of the said male and female interengaging means and being retained in such engagement by the pressure of the rods with the latter actuated by said spring, and said links being hingedly interconnected at a point in alinement with the hinge connection of the frame members.

4. A handbag having a frame comprising a plurality of inverted-U-shaped frame members the arms of which are hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, and a plurality of linkages each having a pair of links for each end of the frame. each link and an adjacent arm having male and female interengaging means adjacent to their upper ends for mounting the link, said links of each pair being hingedly interconnected adjacent to the hinge connections of the arms, a plurality of telescopic rod means each having a resilient element tending to elongate the same, each of said rod means having end portions for socketed engagement with portions of the said male and female interengagement means to mount the rod means and to retain the same mounted due to the expansibility of the rod means under the pressure of its element, and said rod means coacting with said male and female means for exerting pressure on the said male and female means to maintain the same in interengaged position.

5. A handbag having a frame comprising a plurality of inverted U-shaped frame members the arms of which are hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, and a plurality of linkages, each having a pair of links for each end of the frame, each link and an adjacent arm having male and female interengaging means adjacent to their upper ends for mounting the link, said links of each pair being hingedly interconnected adjacent to the hinge connections of the arms, a plurality of telescopic rod means each having a resilient element tending to elongate the same, each of said rod means having end portions for socketed engagement with portions of the said male and female interengagement means to mount the rod means and to retain the same mounted due to the expansibility of the rod means under the pressure of its element, and said rod means coacting with said male and female means for exerting pressure on the said male and female means to maintain the same in interengaged position, the hinge connections of said arms and of the adjacent links having axial male and female interengagement with each other for maintaining said connections in alinement with each other.

6. A handbag having a frame having inverted V-shaped frame members hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, a plurality of telescopic rod means each having a resilient element to cause elongation of the rod means, each rod means and an arm of its frame member having male and female interengaging means maintained in engagement by the elongation of the rod means sothat said rod means is removable, and lateral elements on the rod means movable outwardly thereof to internally engage and secure a handbag hem portion sleeved over the rod means.

7. A handbag including a frame having a plurality of inverted U-shaped frame members hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, a bag having different hems along the mouth thereof, a rod element removably mounted on the arms of each frame member and passing through one of said hems to mount the bag, each frame member having a top bar element closely overlying the hem, one of said elements having lateral portions projecting toward the other element for biting into the wall of the adjacent hem to pinch the latter between the elements in order to prevent the hem from shifting along the rod element when the latter is mounted on the frame and releasing the hem upon detachment of the rod element from the frame.

8. A handbag having a frame having a plurality of inverted U-shaped frame members hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, the arms of each frame member having confronting alined fixed pins remotely from the hinge connection, and elongated removable means for each frame member for engaging through hem portions at the mouth of a handbag, each elongated means including a tube, a rod having a main body and at one end thereof a guide portion of reduced diameter, and at its other end a bore engaged over one of said pins, an expansion coil spring extending around said guide portion of the rod, a thimble slidably sleeved over the said guide portion, the adjacent free end of the guide portion being upset to prevent separation of the rod from the thimble, said spring bearing at its opposite ends-on the thimble and on the main body of the rod, said thimble being press-fitted into one end portion of the tube, and the tube having at its other end portion sleeved over the other pin of the frame member.

9. A handbag having a frame comprising inverted U-shaped frame members each having an upper bar and. a pair of spaced downwardly extending arms permanently rigidly connected to the bar, said frame members being hingedly interconnected at the lower ends of said arms, and a bag having a bag body constituting the main part of the bag and having a normally exposed outer wall and hems extending along opposite edges of the mouth of the bag body, said bag body having end walls forming a part thereof to retain the contents of the bag when the latter is suspended at the hems, and elongated individual means passing through each hem from end to end of the bag body and mounted on said arms, each of said elongated means and its corresponding arms having male and female interengaging means, each of said elongated means being telescopic and resiliently expansible for effecting the engagement of said male and female means, each of said elongated means being closely adjacent to the upper bars of the frame members and being in substantial alinement with the arms thereof, and said hems being so highly gathered as to afford a substantial body lying between said arms and resisting shifting of the hems along said elongated means, with said bars overlying the hems in contact therewith.

10. A handbag including a bag body having a mouth and having hems along the top and ends of the mouth, a frame having a pair of inverted U-shaped frame members hingedly interconnected at their lower ends, the arms of each frame member having alined confronting pins, a pair of links at each end of the frame hingedly interconnected at their lower ends and extending upwardly through said end hems, said links having perforated upper end portions through which said pins project to mount the links, and telescopic resiliently expansible rod means extending through the top hems and having end bores for removably receiving the projecting free end portions of said pins to thus mount the rod means and prevent accidental removal of the links.

SANFORD B. MEGDALL. 

